Chapter 1: The Morning Dew
I awoke to the presence of Sensei. The sunlight streaming through the curtains announced that it was morning.
As I scanned the room from my bed, I noticed that Sensei was not there. However, upon focusing my awareness, I could feel her presence outside my window—somewhere near the mansion’s garden. What was that presence…?
Now that I think about it, there was something like this before. Ever since we were in the mountains, Sensei had taken delight in playing pranks on me. That day, her prank was to send her presence flying behind me. Startled by the sudden sensation, I let out a shriek, “Uwaaa!” Seeing my reaction, Sensei burst into laughter, clapping her hands and exclaiming, “Faaah!!” What could it mean to send a presence like that…? Ugh.
Regardless, Sensei is extraordinary, so it’s not surprising that she can do such things. Most likely, she wanted to say, “Wake up quickly and come here.”
“Good morning.”
“Yes, good morning.”
As I made my way to the garden, there stood Sensei. The morning mist shrouded the sunlight, and her figure, with a hint of melancholy, resembled a traditional ink painting.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“I thought you might be playing another prank. You could have just woken me up normally.”
“Well, don’t say that. It’s part of my training to read presence.”
Words can be twisted in many ways.
“So, Sensei, you have something to discuss, right?”
That’s why I was called here.
“You, my son-in-law, are quick to get to the point.”
Following her invitation, we began to stroll slowly through the garden. It was meticulously maintained, showcasing the gardener’s skill.
“There’s lavender, herbs, clematis, and geraniums. Quite impressive.”
As someone who knows little about plants, the only ones I could name were dendrobium, sisyrinchium, gerbera, zephyranthes, and atomic bazooka. Of course, I only knew their names.
“Son-in-law.”
Sensei stopped and called out to me. Her affection for Sena and me was genuine. That’s why she likely wished to spend her time in silence, if possible.
“It’s about Sena.”
“Yes.”
Sensei closed her eyes for a few seconds.
“Sena cannot descend from the mountain.”
I recalled Sena’s state from yesterday. Clinging to Sensei, she had lost her color and trembled. It pained me to see her desperately trying to muster a clumsy smile.
“Sena is afraid of humans.”
I could never have imagined that the usually aloof Sena harbored such fear.
───Ichiro, it’s okay. I will help you.
Sena’s words from just before descending the mountain resurfaced in my mind. I was overwhelmed by the urge to claw at my chest.
“To be precise, Sena is terrified of the humans in this world, and she despises them to the point of wanting to kill them.”
“Sena bears a deep wound in her heart.”
I waited silently for Sensei to continue.
“I have spent a long time with Sena, but I could not heal her wounds.”
A look of anguish crossed Sensei’s face.
“I have distanced myself from her many times, trying to eliminate the causes of her pain. It took time, but I was able to largely remove those sources.”
Sensei wore a weary expression that didn’t suit her. I felt compelled to say something to her. But what could I possibly convey?
“Sensei.”
That’s right. She had been trying her best. Without any reward, she had undoubtedly endured through the long years, gritting her teeth. If I didn’t express these words, who else would?
“I know this sounds cliché, but thank you for your hard work all this time.”
She widened her eyes at my words.
“You really are a fool.”
A smile broke across her face. Surely, Sensei had been fighting alone all this time. Just as Sena had been lonely, Sensei must have felt the same.
“I have always struggled with the thought that perhaps I should have forgotten the reasons for Sena’s pain together with her, and stayed by her side until her wounds healed.”
I didn’t have the answer to that. Even if I did, I couldn’t change the past.
“That is why, when I finally returned home and saw you and Sena living happily together, it was the greatest blessing for me.”
“I have always been helped by Sena.”
Sensei nodded at my words and added, “It’s not just that.”
“You have helped Sena, and she has helped you.”
───Ichiro, it’s okay.
I wanted to see her smile right now.
“I am living in happiness now. With Sena by my side, and you here as well. I ask for nothing more. That alone is enough.”
Sensei said, “And so—” as she swung her arm.
A sound erupted behind me.
“I will never allow anything to threaten the happiness of Sena, you, or myself!”
Something sinister writhed, attempting to encroach upon the morning sun. Thus began the fierce battle with the Sealed Domain.
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